Tread carefully….

You don’t have to be Imelda Marcos to love shoes – any woman will tell you how important the right shoes are to an outfit for a big night out but many people are not aware of the impact wearing the wrong shoes can have long term.

Ballet pumps are immensely popular with young women but any podiatrist or orthopaedic surgeon will tell you that their recent popularity has become a nightmare for many, causing aching and pain on walking particularly if you are overweight and put a lot of strain on the joints of your feet.

They provide no arch support and can lead to knee, hip and back problems as they interfere with the normal balance of the foot muscles and joints and can also lead to a common painful condition called plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is a band of tissue which runs along the bottom of the foot and needs proper arch support to do its job linking the sole of the foot to the heel.

If you go barefoot a lot or wear flat unsupportive shoes such as ballet pumps, slippers or flip flops the fascia can become irritated, inflamed or even torn, causing severe heel pain and resting the feet is not a permanent cure. The best answer is to wear well fitting, supportive shoes, paying particular attention to the arches.

High heels are not known as killers for nothing!

 Although they can look fantastic the list of problems they can cause a number of different problems some obvious, others less well known.

Ankle sprains/fractures are an inevitable risk of walking on narrow high heels. particularly stilettos. And if you break your ankle your chance of getting osteoarthritis afterwards is also increased.

Haglund’s deformity, also known as a “Pump Bump” is a spur of bony tissue on the back of the heel bone which can result from chronic pressure from rigid shoes on the back of the foot .This is often caused by high heels although even medium heels can cause it too. Not only does a bony lump appear but the pressure from the shoes can cause blisters, inflammation, bursitis and even Achilles tendinitis The symptoms can be treated but the lump is permanent.

When the balls of the feet are taking so much pressure the bones and nerves of the foot come under stress and may become inflamed , possibly leading to a condition called Morton’s neuroma where the nerves between the toes becomes irritated and painful. Over time chronic stress may even lead to hairline fractures.

Foot deformities may be caused by high heels but even more so if they have very pointed toes in which case the toes are crammed tightly together as well as bearing the entire weight of the body on a small area, the ball of the foot. Hammer toes, bunions, bruising of the toenails are all common in people who regularly wear tight high heels.

Tall platform shoe/wedges are often seen as a less risky option than narrow high heels but their height alone puts pressure on the metatarsal bones of the mid-foot and the fact that they are so rigid prevents the foot from bending normally. As with other types of shoe, lower is better but the stiff foot bed of the shoe can still cause problems.

In general terms it is obvious that subjecting your feet to abnormal pressure whether from high heels, tight toes or unsupportive flats is quite likely to cause you to have foot problems. While avoiding them would appear to be common sense, the desire to emulate the red carpet styles of stars like Kim Kardashian or Lady Gaga is powerful, so what can you do to minimise risk?  First, reduce the amount of time you spend in heels -even wearing 2 inch heels for prolonged periods can cause complications, secondly choose a boxy toed style to give your toes a bit of breathing space and third, do some regular stretching exercises to prevent  your muscles from tightening and shortening over time.

Better Safe Than Sorry

Finally, just a few words to remind anyone who is diabetic or who has friends or relatives who are diabetic to take great care at this time of year.

In winter, as we are now, it is most important to ensure that the boots you have not put on since last January still fit. Our feet change shape as the years go by and the sheepskin boots or fleecy-lined wellies which kept you cosy last year may not be the right choice this time around so don’t take a chance- if they don’t feel right when you first put them on, don’t wear them out of the house. Check your feet when you get home and if you see any change in colour or signs of rubbing don’t wear them again and even think about seeing your podiatrist if you have any concerns that something might be amiss.  Furthermore, all year round it is a good idea to run your hand around the inside of shoes or boots, including the sole to make sure there are no little pebbles or  bits of twigs which might rub. This is particularly vital if you have any sensory loss in your feet and toes. 

If your feet feel cold, resist the temptation to put them on a radiator or hot water bottle, a burn or scald leading to an ulcer can happen fast and take ages to heal.  Remember: slippers can be dangerous things: whether they are loose and could cause you to slip and fall - over a rug or down the stairs or if they have seams or zips that can cause friction rubs and lead to ulcers, check your slippers as carefully as you would your shoes and always, always check your feet daily and have a good hygiene regime.

if you have any questions do not hesitate to make an appointment with your podiatrist- it’s better to be safe than sorry!